Bhavna hurried along the cracked pavement near the industrial stretch on the outskirts of the city. The night shift workers were finishing up and the streetlights flickered weakly over empty lots and shuttered godowns. She had taken a wrong turn after leaving her friend’s place later than planned. Her crop top clung to her skin in the humid air and her jeans sat low on her hips. The sound of boots and rough laughter reached her before she saw them.

Four men stepped out from the shadows of a loading bay. Manoj was the tallest, broad-shouldered, with oil stains on his shirt. Raju walked with a limp but his arms were thick from years of hauling crates. Kishan had a sharp grin and restless hands. Sunil brought up the rear, quieter but watching her with open hunger.